Teenage pedestrian fighting for her life after being hit by a cyclist in Southend

Firstly, I really hope the girl makes a swift and full recovery. It must be awful for the her family and friends.
As the debate over pedestrian/cyclists shared paths...well some can be good and others less so. this one sounds like it's in the latter category.
In general terms, I do think, as the quicker moving traffic, the cyclists have a responsibility to slow down in busier places. I've shamefully been that ignorant "get out of my way" cyclist in the past and it's idiotic. Luckily I've always got away with it and I've grown up a bit now. I still get annoyed when approaching a dog walker on a NCN route, wearing headphones with their dog on a long lead darting across the path (especially when it's dark too!). But perhaps that person will grow up one day too! Mutual respect really is the best way forward.

The problem with shared space is that pedestrians (as the more vulnerable party in this instance) have right of way, and therefore the only safe speed is walking-pace.

I don't know about you but I have difficulty riding that slowly...

Although rare, terribly sad incidents like this are sharp reminders that it is vital that everyone uses shared use spaces - like this or canal towpaths - mindfully and with consideration for others.

http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/walking-and-cycling-in-londons-greatest-pa...

Dick Vincent
London Towpath Ranger
Canal & River Trust

According to the numerous comments on this article the unfortunate girl was hit by a guy on a bike who was going "too fast", and who may or may not have had lights, and may or may not have been injured too. I can't vouch for the veracity of the comments, so take them with a pinch of salt.

@Tovarishch - glad to see Russia is the same as the UK then!

I am astounded that people think that pedestrians and cyclists should share the same space, particularly in this age of MP3 players and SMS. I am regularly told by the police to ride on the pavement (even though it is illegal in Russia!) but as soon as I can I get back on the road. Even at crawling pace it is almost impossible to avoid pedestrians who just change direction without looking, for example to look in a shop window, or are busy talking on their phones. They shouldn't need to worry about the dangers of a mechanical object and cyclists shouldn't have to fear the ever increasing SMS walkabout syndrome.

[[[[ Yes, Tony F., you say there are "remarkably few" collisions with bikers and walkers---but there must be 10 shunts not reported, to every one that is. When walking on shared-use paths, I always feel uneasy (having been clipped several times by bikers, though never seriously so far), and when I'm cycling on the blasted things I never know whether a walker might suddenly change direction (and why shouldn't they?)
No, as has been said previously, bikes and feet should each have separate and clearly marked lanes, like the stretch in London's Hyde Park running west from Hyde Park Corner. It ain't perfect, and there will always be encroachments, but when you ride it you don't have to poodle along at four-and-a-half mph, and walkers don't have to worry too much about hospital admissions....
P.R.

Without knowing the facts it's impossible to make an appropriate comment.

However, I hope the young lady concerned makes a speedy and full recovery.

Hilarious how you all say "aaw we need to know the facts" but happy to pitchfork any driver after the headline.

Let's hope the girl makes a speedy and full recovery, I feel sorry for her poor parents too they must be worried sick.

Probably not an incident though that shouldl lead us to jump to conclusions about shared use pathways, considering the large numbers of people who use them the incidents seem to be remarkably few. I can't recall any others from Southend since that path was put in place.

It's been a long time (thankfully) since I spent a Saturday night in Southend, but I wonder how crowded the path was at 9.45 on a cold night in February? The answer at the moment is that we don't know, and we don't know how fast the cyclist was going, or if either of those involved had been drinking - it was a Saturday night in Southend after all - which might have impaired their judgement. It may well be that no-one in this incident was to blame, accidents do happen. If it turns out the cyclist was to blame then let's hope that the girl and her family are able to get some redress. It is worth noting though that the report of the incident makes no mention of the rider being charged or cautioned by the police.

As the Sustrans ranger quoted in the story says, shared use paths work fine where everybody slows down and shows a bit of consideration and respect. The tricky part in some busy sections is that unlike 'naked streets' schemes where drivers, pedestrian, and cyclists share the space but know that one part of it is mainly for the cars and bikes and one part for the pedestrians on many shared use paths the perception of what they are for is often different for the two groups using them - pedestrians seem them as paths, whereas many cyclists see them as surrogate roads.

A cyclist on pedestrian accident is so rare that it warrants news coverage.
I wonder how many pedestrians were hit by cars on the same day that didnt warrant reporting.
Need to keep a perspective on it.

Given the choice between the road and a shared use path, I use the road every time. Safer for pedestrians, safer for me. Mind you, I've got the deathtrap shared-use paths in south Manchester.

Hope the lass makes a full recovery.

We don't know all the facts. But, just as with car-on-cyclist incidents, we know that if you are going fast enough to cause serious injuries then you shouldn't approach more vulnerable road users (or in this case path users) close enough for any unexpected movement on their part to cause an accident. If that means slowing down, or using a longer or less pleasant route, then so be it. That is because we live in a society in which one of the cornerstones is, or at least once was, that individuals actively and consciously put the safety of others above their own personal, or their family's, convenience. That is why I never use shared-use paths as part of any commute or recreational ride. And it is why I hope this cyclist is dealt with fairly but firmly, and unless there are any truly extenuating factors, given as severe a penalty as a motorist who harms a cyclist. Unfortunately, that is typically a fine for as little as 35 pounds, because the judiciary in this country seem to no more believe in the kind of society that I do as do the perpetrators.

hopefully she makes a full recovery, and we don't know the full facts.

but this is why i am not happy that so much effort is put into pavement cycle paths. Bikes and pedestrians don't make good bed fellows. Walkers are too manoeuvrable, so unless the cyclists are going at little more than walking pace accidents are all too likely.

However my gut feeling is that in this case a young male cyclist no lights etc riding dangerously on the pavement and not giving a damn about those around.

I couldn't imagine a place I'd want to cycle less, shared with pedestrians? What else do Southend have planned, a shared area for both wind surfers and snorkelling?